Burntwood

BAG Chairman, Vic Chamberlain invites all residents of Burntwood and Hammerwich to Attend:

Burntwood Action Group (BAG)’s Annual General Meeting (AGM)

Tuesday 6th March 8:00 p.m. at St Matthews Social Club, WS7 9EP

Following BAG’s rapid increase in membership and the necessity to demonstrate that BAG is a bona fide organisation, representing a large proportion of Burntwood’s residents, we adopted a formal constitution last year. It is now a requirement that we hold an annual general meeting (AGM).

This, our first AGM, will focus on strengthening the committee to continue the fight to protect Burntwood’s Green Belt and to pursue its vision for a healthier, more attractive and more sustainable Burntwood.

AGENDA

Welcome and introduction by the BAG Chairman.

Apologies

Chairman’s report

Treasurer’s report

Review of the situation regarding Burntwood’s Green Belt.

Review of BAG’s involvement in producing the Burntwood Neighbourhood Plan and the campaign to create a BETTER BURNTWOOD.

Following the meeting of representatives of Burntwood Action Group (BAG) and Hammerwich Parish Council with LDC Planning Officers we are delighted to confirm the following:

The total number of new homes (1054) to be built in Burntwood during the Plan Period (2008 – 2019) will be close to the 1050 quoted in the adopted Local Plan Strategy rather than the 1350 in the Draft Allocations document.

All plans for housing development in the Green Belt in LDC’s Draft Local Plan Allocations document have been removed.

The modification of Burntwood’s Green Belt Boundary will only affect the St Matthews Estate and the properties along St Matthews Road and Jones Lane. These properties will be removed from the Green Belt and the new Green Belt Boundary will be drawn tightly around them. All the land surrounding them will remain in the Green Belt. We would have preferred all these properties to remain within the Green Belt but as there is little chance of winning that battle, it has been abandoned.

South of Highfields Road the Green Belt boundary will remain in its current position at the foot of the gardens of the properties.

If, after inspection by a Government Inspector, the Plan remains as above, it should protect Burntwood’s surrounding Green Belt from ‘rogue’ applications for housing development. However, this cannot be guaranteed as the Secretary of State has already overruled the Local Plan and Court rulings to grant planning permission for 750 homes at Curborough. This is why BAG will remain vigilant for as long as it has the support to do so.

In removing plans to build on the Green Belt Lichfield District Councillors and Planning Officers have responded positively to the objections from ourselves, Hammerwich Action Group, Burntwood Town Council and Hammerwich Parish Council and 4000+ residents.

It is now in all our interest to help LDC adopt the revised plan as quickly as possible.

Developers, who had been planning to build on our Green Belt, will doubtless submit objections to the above changes. To counter them we need to demonstrate to the Inspector that the revisions have wide support.

BAG Committee and Burntwood Town Council have already drafted their responses to the Consultation and we would urge all our members and supporters to respond to the Consultation.

LDC Planning Officers are hoping that responses will be on completed representation forms submitted via one of the following:

For a simpler and quicker method please follow this link and download the letter which can be completed with your personal details, printed and posted to the address above or dropped off at 35 Farewell Lane for delivery to the LDC Office.

Alternatively, if you want to use the official representation form please follow this link for a partially completed copy which can be completed with your personal details and emailed as an attachment to the above email address. If you prefer it could be printed and posted as above.

BAG’s Response to the Consultation on Lichfield District Council (LDC)’s Revised Local Plan Allocations Document

It is likely that you will have received a letter from LDC inviting you to respond to the Revised Allocations Document. Following a meeting of Burntwood Action Group (BAG)’s Committee and representatives of Hammerwich Action Group, both organisations advise you to DO NOTHING AT THIS STAGE.

Representatives of BAG and Hammerwich Action Group have been invited to meet LDC’s leading Planning Officers on Monday 29th January to discuss our response to the Revised Document. Following that meeting we will be in a much better position to advise you how to respond. There will still be 3 weeks left of the Consultation Period.

The objections from 4000+ residents of Burntwood and Hammerwich, to plans to build 330 homes on Burntwood & Hammerwich’s Green Belt, was a highly significant factor in those plans being removed in the revision of the Allocations Document.
Both Action Groups are delighted with this outcome and endorse the revised document but there are still hurdles to overcome:

The Plan has to undergo public examination by a Government Inspector and developers are very likely to pursue arguments for the release of our Green Belt for housing development.

To fulfil its statutory duty to cooperate with its neighbours LDC will have to respond to Birmingham’s likely request for Lichfield District to accommodate some of its housing requirement.

In anticipation of this request LDC is planning a complete revision of its Local Plan and commissioning a new Green Belt Review and Sustainability Appraisal. Our experience makes us very suspicious of these documents, which can be ‘tailored’ to achieve whatever outcome LDC Planning Officers require.

We have no plans to distribute this information through a printed and delivered newsletter so if you know of any interested parties who cannot access emails please pass it on.

Thank you all for your continued support; we will contact you again after 29th January.

At last nights LDC Full Council meeting the revised Local Plan Allocations Publication document was passed with out any opposition. The revised plan removes the two previously allocated greenbelt sites from the housing Allocation, thus maintaining all of Burntwood’s remaining greenbelt.

Thank you all for the wonderful support you have afford BAG through out our campaign.

In the New Year we will be publishing a newsletter detailing what we need to do next to retain our greenbelt, together with improving Burntwood infrastructure and facilities

On behalf of Burntwood Action Group we wish you all a very happy Christmas and a great New Year!

YOUR TOWN – YOUR FUTURE

At Lichfield District Council (LDC) Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting on Tuesday 19th September the Lead Planning Officer Reported on the result of the Consultation on the Local Plan Land Allocations; he stated that the plan to put 80 homes on the Green Belt off Coulter Lane had been removed from the Plan but the Plan still proposed 375 homes East of Burntwood Bypass.

Unfortunately we misinterpreted that statement and believed that the 375 homes he referred to were the 250 homes planned for the site South of Highfields Road, increased to 375 and re-named East of Burntwood Bypass.

Subsequent questioning of the Planning Officer has revealed that the draft revised Plan removes all proposals to build on Burntwood’s Green Belt.

Sincere apologies to members of Burntwood Action Group (BAG) who were sent an email with the wrong information.

BAG welcomes the proposed changes to the Plan and acknowledges that LDC has listened to the thousands of Burntwood residents who opposed plans to build on the Green Belt.

HOWEVER we are not celebrating yet because:

the Draft Revised Plan has to be ratified by LDC Cabinet and Full Council.

a revision to the Plan is already scheduled for 2018-19.

LDC is under pressure to accommodate some of Birmingham’s housing allocation.

until poorly situated Industrial brownfield sites, in the middle of Burntwood’s housing, are re-sited to appropriate sites on the periphery of Burntwood and the land re-allocated to housing our Green belt will continue to be under threat.

Please help us maintain the pressure on the Council by joining us (as spectators) at:

(No commitment other than support of our mission to protect Burntwood’s Green Belt)

BAG Public Meeting 8:00 p.m. Wednesday 15th November St. Matthews Club

This meeting is planned to:

bring Burntwood residents up to date with the current situation.

outline what is required to move forward.

Inform residents about the Better Burntwood Group and facilitate the formation of a Better Burntwood Committee.

Burntwood Neighbourhood Plan

Based on the outcomes of numerous public consultations Burntwood Town Council commissioned the production of the Plan and representatives of BAG have provided a significant input to the latest draft. It now provides a realistic yet ambitious vision for the future of Burntwood.

The Plan is scheduled to go out for Public Consultation on Saturday 4th November (between 10:00hrs & 14:00hrs) at the Old Mining College, Chasetown and Burntwood Library. Please go along and leave some feedback.

Burntwood Town Deal

This brings together representatives of Lichfield District Council, Staffordshire County Council, Burntwood Town Council, Developers and other interested/influential parties.

BAG’s Chairman attended their meeting on 15th September and is pleased to report that the Group’s objectives are very closely aligned to the wider vision of BAG to:

provide a town centre development which improves the Town’s retail offer.

improve health facilities.

provide the appropriate housing mix for the Town, which allows older people to keep their independence and allows family size properties to be better utilised.

provide better transport links

exploit the opportunities for leisure, health improvement, tourism and business opportunities presented by the close proximity of Chasewater.

From that meeting it was noted that:

the proposed Greenwood House Health Centre is now very close to being signed off – with a forecasted completion date of 2019.

investigations are underway, with an organisation called Back the Track, to convert the disused rail link between Chasewater and Lichfield to a footpath/cycle track. The site of the old Hammerwich Station would be Burntwood’s closest access point.

there is constructive movement to develop the Blue Hoarding site by Morrisons.

Phase Two of Campaign to protect Green Belt comes to an End

On Friday 12th May Vic Chamberlain (Burntwood Action Group (BAG) Chairman) presented Ian Pritchard (Lichfield District Council (LDC) Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, Development & Environment) with BAG’s response to LDC’s Consultation on its Local Plan Allocations.

Phase 1 ended when LDC Cabinet Members refused to accept BAG’s proposal to remove plans to build on the Green Belt from the Consultation.

Phase 3 We are now into a ‘waiting game’ whilst LDC Officers analyse all the responses to the Consultation but BAG’s work goes on:

Preparing our case for the preservation of Burntwood and Hammerwich Green Belt to present at the Inspection Hearings (Phase 4) should LDC choose to submit their Plan for inspection without amending it.

Contributing to the Burntwood Town Deal Working Group to move forward with plans for the regeneration of Burntwood, including re-development of brownfield sites to negate any need to build on Burntwood’s Green Belt. BAG urges LDC Leaders and Officers to initiate meetings of the Working Group so that rapid progress can be made towards BAG’s vision becoming a reality.

Monitoring the progress of:

the re-location of businesses from the Mount Road Industrial Estate to Burntwood Business Park to release land for housing.

the development of the blue hoarding site south west of Morrisons for a new health centre and affordable homes.

As indicated, in the reports below, a united Burntwood Town Council and Leaders of LDC have committed themselves to supporting BAG’s plans for the regeneration of Burntwood. Along with the support of thousands of Burntwood residents BAG is confident that its policy of engaging with all interested parties and developing positive, exciting and realistic alternatives to building on the Green Belt will be successful.

However, to prepare for our representations to the Government Inspector’s Hearings on the Local Plan we need to collect evidence of the strength of support for BAG’s opposition to proposals, in the Plan, to build 330 homes on the land off Coulter lane and South of Highfields Road, Chasetown.

On Friday 12th May Vic Chamberlain (Burntwood Action Group (BAG) Chairman) presented Ian Pritchard (Lichfield District Council (LDC) Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, Development & Environment) with BAG’s response to LDC’s Consultation on its Local Plan Allocations.

Phase 1 ended when LDC Cabinet Members refused to accept BAG’s proposal to remove plans to build on the Green Belt from the Consultation.

Phase 3 We are now into a ‘waiting game’ whilst LDC Officers analyse all the responses to the Consultation but BAG’s work goes on:

Preparing our case for the preservation of Burntwood and Hammerwich Green Belt to present at the Inspection Hearings (Phase 4) should LDC choose to submit their Plan for inspection without amending it.

Contributing to the Burntwood Town Deal Working Group to move forward with plans for the regeneration of Burntwood, including re-development of brownfield sites to negate any need to build on Burntwood’s Green Belt. BAG urges LDC Leaders and Officers to initiate meetings of the Working Group so that rapid progress can be made towards BAG’s vision becoming a reality.

Monitoring the progress of:

the re-location of businesses from the Mount Road Industrial Estate to Burntwood Business Park to release land for housing.

the development of the blue hoarding site south west of Morrisons for a new health centre and affordable homes.

As indicated, in the reports below, a united Burntwood Town Council and Leaders of LDC have committed themselves to supporting BAG’s plans for the regeneration of Burntwood. Along with the support of thousands of Burntwood residents BAG is confident that its policy of engaging with all interested parties and developing positive, exciting and realistic alternatives to building on the Green Belt will be successful.

After seeing a presentation of Burntwood Action Group (BAG)’s plans for the regeneration of Burntwod, Michael Fabricant MP said he was “totally behind a proper plan for Burntwood” and “supportive of Burntwood Action Group (BAG)’s proposals.”

The plans have also been presented to Leaders of Burntwood Town Council and Leaders of the Labour Group and both Groups have indicated their complete support.

Background to BAG’s proposals:

The draft Neighbourhood Plan for Burntwood, does little more than mirror the Local Plan of Lichfield District Council (LDC), which now proposes to put 330 houses on Burntwood’s attractive Green Belt.

Despite these proposals receiving universal condemnation from Burntwood’s residents and Councillors LDC has insisted on carrying them forward into the current Consultation on its Local Plan Land Allocations document.

LDC’s Local Plan Strategy, published in 2012, proposed a new Burntwood Town Centre on land south west of Morrisons on Milestone Way. Despite that site being separated from the current Town Centre at Sankey’s Corner and no interest from developers in submitting plans for its regeneration, LDC insists on retaining it for a new town centre in its Strategy. The site has been hidden behind blue hoarding for many years.

Burntwood is the only part of Lichfield District which has regularly met LDC’s targets for new housing despite negligible investment in its infrastructure.

BAG’s proposals have been developed to satisfy four main criteria:

All proposals for new housing should contain plans for a large proportion of ‘affordable’ homes.

All redundant or dilapidated brownfield sites should be reclaimed for housing before Green Belt is considered.

Plans for the redevelopment of Burntwood Town Centre should be realistic and implementable in the foreseeable future.

Improvements to Burntwood’s infrastructure are needed to make up for many decades of neglect and should precede or accompany any further housing.

BAG also seeks to persuade LDC that, when all available brownfield sites within Burntwood have been exhausted, they should look to non-Green Belt land in other parts of the District before planning to destroy more of Burntwood’s Green Belt.

Public Meeting: Wednesday 26th April 7:30 p.m. at St. Matthews Social Club, St Matthews Road:

BAG will present its plans to the public, Burntwood Town Councillors, representatives of Lichfield District Council and Staffordshire County Council and invited members of the press.

The presentation will be visual and will illustrate how, with a bit of imagination, cooperation and joined up thinking, all of these criteria can be met. It will show how:

a re-developed town centre at Sankey’s Corner could be attractive and traffic free.

the regenerating of the Town Centre at Sankey’s Corner could release the ‘blue hoarding’ site for a much needed new health centre and affordable housing.

the Mount Road Industrial site could accommodate many more than the 96 homes, currently planned and suggest how landowners, leaseholders, planners and developers could be persuaded to work together.

Questions will be welcomed and BAG hopes that everyone will leave the meeting feeling confident that Burntwood can escape the dictates of Lichfield and take control of its own destiny.